Vagabond Synth Nerds Journal ~The Electric Keyboards That Colored Music and Numerous Masterpiece Synth Albums~ Part 50

■ The Pinnacle of Urban Music: The World of Michael Franks (Part 1)

For this post of “Vagabond Synth Nerd’s Journal," I want to talk about Michael Franks. Born in 1944, Michael Franks is a 77-year-old musician from the U.S. West Coast. lthough his music is categorized as pop, it is built upon complex chord harmonies rooted in jazz, bossa nova, and other genres. It is near-miraculous that he has maintained his own musical style from his 1973 debut to the present day, releasing 19 albums (excluding compilations), including live albums. Furthermore, every single one of those albums maintains a consistently high level of quality. I believe the secret to maintaining that quality lies in his relaxed approach to music, backed by a foundation of incredible intelligence.

For this first part on Michael Franks, I would like to pick up on his early albums and the producers and musicians surrounding him.

One key factor in album production is the presence of the producer. His second and third albums were produced by Tommy LiPuma, who is said to be second to none when it comes to producing stylish music. When you think of Tommy LiPuma, he is known for producing jazz pianist and vocalist Diana Krall and jazz guitarist George Benson.

■ Recommended Album: Michael Franks, The Art of Tea (1975)

This is Michael Franks' second album and an eternal masterpiece. One of the factors that constitutes Michael's music is the musicians who support it. The contributors to this album are members of The Crusaders: pianist Joe Sample, guitarist Larry Carlton, and bassist Wilton Felder. The saxophonists are Michael Brecker and David Sanborn. On top of that, the strings were arranged by Nick DeCaro! There is nothing left to be said.

The Crusaders' own music often has an earthy touch and is not as sophisticated as Michael's albums. The fact that it doesn't feel dated at all even when listening to it today is, I believe, largely due to the skills of producer Tommy LiPuma. He dared not use synthesizers, and you can feel Tommy's commitment to the music through this choice.

It is said that he chose the album title, The Art of Tea, because Michael was deeply impressed by Okakura Kakuzo's The Book of Tea. It is an anecdote that is very characteristic of Michael, who even earned a doctorate.

Recommended Track: "Eggplant"

"Eggplant" is, as the name suggests, about an eggplant. It is a song about a woman who makes 19 different eggplant dishes. From a stylish intro, the song progresses with a 4-beat touch. Joe Sample's Fender Rhodes electric piano obbligato and solo are superb!

Recommended Track: "Monkey See, Monkey Do"

Alongside "Eggplant," this is one of the representative works of Michael's early period. Like "Eggplant," Joe Sample's bluesy electric piano backing here is brilliant.

■ Recommended Album: Michael Franks, Sleeping Gypsy (1977)

The album title, Sleeping Gypsy, is said to have been taken from Henri Rousseau's painting "The Sleeping Gypsy." Michael is a lover of painting and art, and his album jackets often feature works by artists like Rousseau and Gauguin, or sculptures from New York.

Sleeping Gypsy is Michael Franks' third album and is considered his greatest masterpiece. The musical style continues from the previous work, The Art of Tea, but the compositions leave the impression of being even more powerful. Many musicians have covered songs like "Lady Wants to Know" and "Antonio's Song." Aside from these two tracks, there are many other fine songs, and while it is an album with a strong, mellow sound, it’s been passed down as an eternal masterpiece. The performances by the backing musicians also enhance the album's reputation.

By the way, I've wondered since the day I bought the album: what is the meaning behind the illustration of the moth on the bottom right of the cover? If anyone knows, please let me know!

Recommended Track: "Lady Wants to Know"

The backing is performed using two types of piano: an acoustic piano and a Fender Rhodes electric piano. It is not certain whether the seeds of David Foster's arrangements were in this song (laughs), but the ensemble of the acoustic and electric pianos is brilliant. It highlights Michael's intelligence-filled song perfectly.
Michael Brecker's tenor sax solo is also too wonderful. It is stylish how the bossa nova touch beat changes to a samba nuance in the middle of the solo.

Recommended Track: "Antonio's Song"

Right after the percussion at the beginning, the two notes struck by Joe Sample on the acoustic piano are magnificent! He imprints the image of "saudade" with just those two notes.
piano are magnificent! He imprints the image of "saudade" with just those two notes. Unlike pianists whose base is 4-beat, Joe Sample is not the type to play rhythms at the very back of the measure. Although jazz peeks through his playing, he matches his pointillistic phrases perfectly to the song. His melodious and "saudade"-filled piano solo is also fantastic! I don't think I am the only one who feels that when listening to a solo like this, one doesn't need a synthesizer at all.

David Sanborn's solo in the latter half of the song is also brilliant. It is a real shame that it fades out in the middle.

Musicians, albums, recommended songs, and keyboards featured in this installment:

• Artist: Michael Franks, Joe Sample, Larry Carlton, Michael Brecker, David Sanborn, etc.
• Album: The Art of Tea, Sleeping Gypsy
• Song Titles: "Eggplant", "Monkey See, Monkey Do", "Lady Wants to Know", "Antonio's Song"
• Equipment Used: Acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano

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